HEPPNER — Second-ranked Weston-McEwen used a 43-29 run in the second half to rally for a 60-51 Blue Mountain Conference win over Heppner on Friday, Feb. 13, and finish conference play 10-0.

“We came out with a plan, but Heppner made it difficult to execute and as a result we played hesitant,” Weston-McEwen coach Jeremy Wolf said. “In the second half, we shed our excuses and started to play ball the way we know how. Heppner didn’t go away, but we were able to get lots of contributions on both ends and finish our regular season with momentum.”

The TigerScots (22-1) will be the No. 1 seed in the BMC district tournament Feb. 20-21 at the Pendleton Convention Center. The No. 10 Mustangs (14-8, 6-4) will be the No. 3 seed.

Heppner got six points from  Isa Payne in the first quarter to take a 14-13 lead. Payne added five points in the second to put Heppner out front 22-17 at the half.

The TigerScots got back on track in the third, getting eight points from Evelyn Hodgson in a 23-15 run that put Weston-McEwen on top 40-37 heading into the fourth quarter.

Addy Hall led Weston-McEwen’s attack in the fourth with nine points, as the TigerScots went on a 20-14 scoring spree to hold on for the win.

“Both teams played really hard,” Heppner coach Robert Wilson said. “It was a very competitive game.I am  proud of how we moved the ball and played together. Look forward to getting a chance to play them again.”

Reagan Pickard led the TigerScots with 17 points, while Hall and Charlotte Hansell each had 16.

Payne had a season-high 25 points and six rebounds, while Cici Stefani had nine points, and Healy Hisler had seven points. Avree Lathrop hauled down five rebounds.

Boys basketball

HEPPNER 86, WESTON-MCEWEN 26 — Caleb George had a game-high 17 points and four assists as the Mustangs rolled to a Blue Mountain Conference home win over the TigerScots.

“Good boys to start a career with,” first-year Weston-McEwen coach Becky Kane said. “The seniors on this team were awesome and will be missed.”

Heppner (15-7 overall, 5-5 BMC) will be the No. 4 seed to the BMC district tournament. Weston-McEwen finished its season 3-20 overall and 0-10 in the BMC.

Joseph Albitre and Alakae Rodriguez each had six points in the first quarter as the Mustangs raced out a 20-8 lead. Heppner stretched its lead to 35-13 at the half.

In the third, Albitre and George each had seven points as the  Mustangs went on a 29-5 run for a commanding 64-18 lead. Heppner closed out the game with a 22-8 scoring spree in the fourth, getting seven points from Keaton Coiner.

Albitre added 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Heppner, while Counter had 14 points and three steals, Rodriguez had 12 points and five rebounds, and Gage Heideman had eight points and nine rebounds. Tim Taylor led the TigerScots with seven points and six rebounds, while Colby Perkins had five points, and Jace Dunlap had four points and four rebounds.

Thacker leads Rockets past Grizzlies

PILOT ROCK — Tate Thacker had 39 points, and Sun Schimmel added 27 as Pilot Rock beat Griswold 74-50 in Old Oregon League play.

“We played some really good basketball at times, but gave them too many second chances with our rebounding,” Griswold coach Chris Peters said. “Pilot Rock’s big two are a tough duo to stop.”

No. 9 Pilot Rock (20-4, 8-2 OOL) will be the No. 2 seed from the Meacham Division at the OOL district tournament.

The Rockets led 26-14 after the first quarter, and 51-30 at the half. Pilot Rock went on a 17-7 run in the third for a 68-37 lead.

Ethan Harlow led the Grizzlies (9-14, 2-7) with 13 points, while Camp Kinnaman added nine, and Eli Boatright eight.

Girls basketball

PILOT ROCK 46, GRISWOLD 20 — The Rockets used a strong first half to beat the visiting Grizzlies and close out their Old Oregon League schedule with a dominant win.

“We started out fast in the first half tonight,” Pilot Rock David Norton said. “We struggled in the second half, but it was great to get our 17th win of the season going into the district tournament.”

Hailey Severe scored all six of her points in the first quarter to help Pilot Rock (17-7 overall, 6-4 OOL) to an 18-4 lead. The Rockets stretched their lead to 31-6 at the half.

The second half was even as the Rockets outscored the Grizzlies 15-14.

“We were pretty short-handed tonight with six girls, and I thought we did really well,” Griswold coach Kevin Porter said. “The game was pretty much out of reach at halftime, but we played a really good second half and I thought we did some really good things. The girls never quit playing hard. We were more aggressive today than we’ve been in a long time offensively, and I thought we did some really good stuff on the defensive end as well.”

Kessa Litfin led the Rockets with nine points, while Autumn Severe had eight, and Kashley Golden and Hailey Thieme each chipped in six.

Ellie Morris led the Grizzlies (6-17, 0-9) with 13 points, while Kate Hill added five.